Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-12-10
TIE POOL AND TEXAS.

TIE POOL AND TEXAS.
The railroads of Texas should not IN
derstand he present movement to do
something in behalf OF the stste to be the
outgrowth of hostility to the railroads Of
the state, but, st the same time, the rail-
roads should appreciate the earnestGess
of the people in this matter snd symps-
thiz3 with it to the extent Of such friend
Iy interest as will tend to cooperation
based upon the full discharge Of ohligs-
tons resting on both people and railroads.
The people of Texas are painfully
aware of the fact that no immigration
worthy tue name he's come into the state
since 1885, they are not oolivious Of the
hlighting irfuences of 'fthe drouth" Of
1885 and 1886, ard Of the great depres-
sion in the cattle industry beginning in
1884; they know that deep water
on the Texas coast and land law
thst will simplify the requirement OF
public lands, are needed factors in the
states development. The people know
that railroads cannot, uDsided, do all
Texas needs to have done for it, but they
90 know that the railroads of Texas haul
people across Texas to California ut less
rate OF fare than the same railroads
will transport people into Texas,
and they know further, that Texas
railroads will carry people out of Texas
at less rate than they will bring people
into Texas; ard they also know that for
the past six months more people have
been carried out than have been brought
into the state.
The people have an intelligent sppre-
hension Of sll the facts bearing on the
case, and now they are ripe for
action that shall be based on CO.
operation o<railroads and people. They
do not feel encouraged to expend any
more money IN advertising the state to
those who are offered cheaper rates to
travel through Texas to other states than
to come to Texas; they want the railroads
to aid IN some movement that will build
up Texas, aud If the pool stands in the
way ard sets itself up as an obstacle, the
people want the pool busted.
The people recall the first message of
Governor Ross to the Twentieth Legisls-
ture, in which he so fully discussed the
"tTsfic arrangements" Of railroads by
which The roads divided the profits upon
some mutually agreed basis, snd put
practical end to the competition which the
people sought and thought to provide
by liberal donations, municipal and pri-
vste. The people are recalling also, this
suggestion of Governor Ross to the Legis-
lature
81 TespectfullY suggest to your honorable
bodies the pTODhety of enacting that hereaf er
pooling combinations betwe' n railroads and
other con mon carr era shall be deem unIaw-
full; and If any off e., agent, servant or EN-
ploye thereof shall en- er into or execute any
agreement of that character, or shall operate or
assist in oper atIng ilr, ad under such agree
ment, or ma | knowingly aid or assist IN the
opers ton Of railroad under such ar angem Mt,
he shall be deemed guilty of a felony, and be
imprisoned in the penItentiary for proper
,erm of years"
II the railroads cannot or will not aid
in the movement because of pool obliga-
tions, the roads must certainly see that
such refusal for such cause will tend to
crystsiize public sentiment in favor of
such law recommended by Governor
Ross.
TIE GAZETTE is not unaware of the
public advantages AID benefits claimed
for the pool, but if such benefits are to
be purchased at the cost of all hope
of legitimate competition aud of the
Cooperation of railroads and peo-
pie in an effort calcula-
ted to promote the interests of both, then
the plea of the people for cooperation.
it may be expected, will become a de-
mand for some legal enactment that VIII
insure competition. 1t is for the rail-
roads to demonstrate whether q ''traffic
arrangement" or pool is the friend or
enemy of Texas.